Why the pass rush could be the story when Patriots meet Seahawks in Super Bowl 60

The Seattle Seahawks have a historically good defense that could stifle the MVP finalist Drake Maye in Super Bowl 60 and see them walk away with the Lombardi Trophy.

Or there can be another storyline, one where the New England Patriots, led by Mike Vrabel in Year 1, show they have the defensive prowess to win it all.

There’s been a defensive shift for the Patriots since their bye in Week 14. They’ve been able to get to the passer, which extended into the postseason. The Patriots lead all teams in sacks this postseason.

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The Seattle defense also likes to sack the quarterback, although they’ve only recorded three this postseason. They finished 8^th in the league in sacks during the regular season.

But for a team that finished 26th in team sacks in the NFL during the regular season, the Patriots have been able to find a pass-rush scheme that has confused opposing quarterbacks in recent weeks.

“I think the common thread between both of our teams is there’s kind of a synergistic effect to how we rush the passer. And they do the same thing,” said Seattle head coach Mike Macdonald on Friday.

The Patriots’ target on Super Bowl Sunday is Sam Darnold, who had an outstanding performance in the NFC championship and is looking to write one of the ultimate NFL comeback stories. But he'll need to get through the New England defense to make it happen.  

Macdonald noted a truly effective pass-rush is a total team effort and New England’s secondary has a chance to impact the game, as well.

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“It takes all 11 guys playing in concert to create pressure on the quarterback and get sacks,” Macdonald said.

Macdonald said of New England cornerbacks, Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis, “They are really good players. Both have size, speed. Can play man-to-man. Can play zone. Can track the ball to a deep area of the field.”

Darnold will have to perform on the biggest stage of his career, and it won’t be easy.

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